Act on structural support for reindeer husbandry and natural industries (No. 986 of 2011).

The purpose of this Act is to improve the structure and operational conditions of reindeer husbandry and other natural industries, as well as to promote economic activities among those engaged in these industries, and to promote the development of reindeer husbandry and natural industry areas as residential areas in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Special importance shall be given to the opportunities of the Sami people as indigenous peoples to preserve and develop industries that are part of Sami culture within their traditional areas. The Act applies to support granted for the improvement and development of the structure and operational conditions of reindeer husbandry and other natural industries, which is financed wholly or partially with European Union funds or solely with national funds. It also applies to certain fishing benefits. Natural industries includes reindeer husbandry and small-scale agricultural production when carried out alongside other natural industries, as well as professional hunting, berry picking, and mushroom picking and, with the exception of fishing and forestry, other such utilization of natural resources based on nature's continuous production capacity.
The support system of the Act refers to: 1. Investment support for entrepreneurs; 2. Start-up support for young entrepreneurs; 3. Support for housing construction for entrepreneurs; 4. Investment support for reindeer herding cooperatives; 5. Support for maintenance of reindeer fences; 6. Research funding; 7. and Special benefits.
The Act contains 127 Articles organized in the following chapters: 1. General provisions; 2. Financing of the support; 3. General requirements for granting support; 4. Requirements applicable to entrepreneurs; 5. Investment support for entrepreneurs; 6. Start-up support for young entrepreneurs; 7. Support for entrepreneurs for housing construction; 8. Support for reindeer herding cooperatives; 9. Research funding; 10. Forms of support; 11. Special conditions for granting support in connection with loans; 12. Granting of state guarantee; 13. Support conditions; 14. Application for and granting of support; 15. Disbursement of support; 16. Special conditions for support in connection with loans; 17. The state's responsibility for state loans; 18. Conditions for state guarantees; 19. (Repealed); 20. Special benefits; 21. Monitoring of support; 22. Inspection; 23. Repayment of support, cessation of support disbursement, recovery, reduced support, and penalties; 24. Procedures regarding support in connection with loans; 25. Special provisions; 26. Entry into force and transitional provisions.